Material operated liquid metering device



April 6, 1965 M. G. BUNDY MATERIAL OPERATED LIQUID METERING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1964 u 2 M w i M i? i w w mm, M f/ H w MM/w m m m... W5 f 1 t I I III nl' I 4 2 MW fl uldlal il I. 1H. 1 ill.all with. a W m 7 m 1 TOW w w W 1 WW m w l x M m J v a M Q M m I m w w oz m w 3 w m m y Mw 111 1 H1 w w w .l 2 2 f M M A ril 6, 1965 M. ca.BUNDY MATERIAL OPERATED LIQUID METERING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 25, 1964 mvsmoa Maurice 6. Bandy United States Patent 0 3,l7d,lii5li-lA'll'ERlAL QPERATED LlQlUllD PJEETERKNG DEWCE Maurice G. Bandy,Kansas Qity, Karts, ssignor to The Industrial Fumigant Co, Kansas City,Me a corpora= tion of lllinnis Filed May 25, race, der. No. 369,659 16Qlaims. (Ql. 222-309) This invention relates to apparatus for dispensingfluids under pressure and has as its primary object the provision of anactuatable fluid dispenser which receives a predetermined volume of aliquid under pressure from a source of such liquid whereby, uponactuation, the device dispenses the predetermined volume of the liquidtherewitbin and delivers the same to a point of use.

Another irnportant object of the instant invention is the provision of adispenser of the aforesaid character which is automatically rechargedwith the liquid under pressure following the dispensing therefrom ofeach predetermined volume of liquid whereby the dispenser is ready foruse once again and a series of successive discharges of the liquid atthe measured volume may occur upon successively actuating the dispenser,all of which may be accomplished in a minimum of time.

Yet another obiect of the present invention is the provision of adispenser of the type described which has a liquid-receiving chamberwhich canbe adjusted in volume, whereby the volume of the liquid underpressure dispensed therefrom can be varied, depending upon therequirements at the point of use of the liquid.

Still another obiect of this invention is the provision of a dispenserfor fluids under pressure which utilizes a shiftable piston movableunder the influence of the fluid pressure in the fluid source coupledwith the dispenser, whereby the dispensing of fluid from the dispenserby virtue of the shifting of the piston is accomplished by the pressureof the fluid in the source so as to obviate any mechanical,force-supplying structure with the dispenser itself.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of the liquid metering or dispensingdevice made pursuant to the concepts of the present invention;

PEG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 andillustrating the positions of the various parts thereof when the deviceis in a charged condition ready to dispense a predetermined volume ofliquid therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the positions of theparts following the dispensing of the predetermined volume of liquidtherefrom;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a crosssectional View taken along line d6 of FIG. 2.

The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensan outletopening spaced fronrtlie inlet opening com municates with the otherchamber and provides the discharge route for a predetermined volume ofthe liquid from the body. A tube intercommunicates the chambers and aspring urges the piston toward the inlet opening so that, when thespring and fluid pressurein the chamber corresponding to the outletopening combine to move the piston toward the inlet opening against thefluid pressure in the chamber corresponding to the inlet opening, thedispenser becomes charged with the liquid at a predetermined volume andis ready for dispensing the predetermined volume upon opening of a valveblocking the outlet opening. After the valve is opened to actuate thedispenser, the predetermined volume of the liquid passes out of the bodyvia the outlet opening. Upon closing of the valve the dispenserautomatically becomes recharged inasmuch as it is coupled with thesource of liquid under pressure and the dispensing operation is againrepeated when it is desired to discharge a predetermined volume of theliquid at the same or different point of use.

Liquid metering and dispensing device 10 includes a hollow, tubular body5.2, a barrel 14 for coupling the interior of body 12 with a source ofliquid under pressure, and an actuator 16 for eliecting the discharge ofa predetermined volume of liquid under pressure from the interior ofbody 12 through a nozz.e 18 coupled therewith.

Body 12 includes an outer tube Zil having a pair of open ends and a pairof closures 22 and 24 mounted on tube 29 and disposed for closing theopen ends thereof as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Closure 22 is provided withan Q-ring seal 26 for sealing the junction bet-ween closure 22 and theinner surface of tube 2t An annular projection 2% engages the end faceof tube 2i), and a collar 30 is threadably mounted on tube 2% to retainprojection 28 in place.

Closure 22 is provided with an opening 32 therethrough defining an inletfor tube 20. Barrel 14 is integral with closure 22 and has a bore 34aligned with inlet $2. Barrel 1 has an internally threaded outer end 36for threadably receiving a coupling 38 which is adapted to be connectedto a source of liquid under pressure. An O-ring seal dtl bears againstthe outer end face of barrel 14 and seals the junction between thelatter and coupling 38. A filter 42 having a tube 4 provided with ports46 is maintained in bore 34 by coupling 38. Filter iz also includes afilter member 48 of foraminous material in surrounding relationship totube 44. Liquid entering tube 44 from the source connected to coupling38 passes through ports 46 and filter member 43 into bore 34 and inlet32.

She side of barrel 14- is provided with a plurality of notches Sittherein. Notches 5d are aligned longitudinally of barrel 14. As shown inFIG. 4, barrel l t is trans versely circular and notches 5d are arcuatein configuration.

A disc 52, carried on one end of a shaft 5%, has a recessed portion 5!:in the periphery thereof. Shaft 54- extends through closure 22 and isrotatable with respect thereto by virtue of a bearing 58 threadablymounted on closure 2?. as shown in FIG. 2. A seal 6h is provided betweenbearing 58 and closure 22. The inner end of shaft 54 provides a limit orstop for dividing means 62 within tube Ed in a manner hereinafterdescribed. In this respect, the position of shaft 54 is adjustableinasmuch as disc 52, which forms a projection with respect to barrel to,is receivable within any one of the notches 5@ after portion as has beenaligned with a corresponding notch and shaft 5 is rotated until theperiphery of the disc 52 extends into notch in the manner shown in FIG.4. To remove disc 52 from a notch 5d, shaft 54 is again rotated untilportion se is adjacent to the notch 5d; whereupon I shaft 54 may beshifted axially while portion 56 moves along the outer surface of barrell4 inasmuch as the surface forming portion 56 is complemental to theouter surface of barrel 14. i

Dividing means 62 includes a piston 64 having a pairof sections as andas secured togetherin any suitable nianncr, suchas by screws or thelike. Each of the sections 66 and d8 is provided with a central opening76 for re ceiving-a tube 3-2in the manner-shown in M63. 2 and 3. Asealing element 74 is disposed between sections 66 and 68 and has aninner annular flange 76 disposed be tween tube 72 and section 66 toprovide a seal there between, while at the same time permitting movementof tube 72 with respect to sections 66 and d3. Element 70 also has anouter annular flange 78 between sections 66 and the inner surface oftube 20 to seal the junction therebetween, while at the same timepermitting movement of piston 64 with respect to tube 29.

Section 68 is provided with a continuous flange 81) extending from theouter face 82 thereof. Flange 80 is provided with an annular bead 84 ofapproximately the same diameter as piston 64, flange 8i) and head 84being provided to guide piston 64 as the same moves within tube 20.Flange 80 is also provided to house a portion of a coil spring 86normally under compression and bearing against face 82 of section 68,and face 88 of closure 24. Thus, piston 64 is biased toward closure 22at all times.

Tube 72 includes a first member received at one end thereof within arecess 92 extending into face 9 1 of closure 22. The opposite end ofmember 90 is telescoped within a second member 96 also forming a part oftube 72. An O-ring seal 98 extends between members 90 and x 96 to sealthe junction therebetween. A coil spring 1% extends through member 90and bears against the portion of closure 22 defining the inner end ofrecess 92, and also bears against one end of a valve 192 within member96. Member 90 is provided with opening 104 in communication with theinterior of tube 20, it being clear that piston 64 divides tube 20 intoa pair of chambers 1116 and 108,

4 each of which alternately increase and decrease in volume as piston 64shifts through tube 21 Member 96 is provided with a number of firstports 111) therein in spaced relationship to the proximal end of member99 and a number of second ports 112 in longitudinally spacedrelationship to ports 110, it being noted "that ports 114 as well asports 112, are circumferentially disposed with respect to member 96.

Member 96 includes an extension 114 which extends into a bore 116 formedin face 88 of closure 24, extension 114 being threadably mounted at 118to closure 24 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A continuous seal 1219 closesthe junction between extension 114 and closure 24. Extension 114 isprovided with a port 122 aligned with a transversely extending bore 124communicating with bore 116. Nozzle 18 is threadably coupled withclosure 24 and in fluid communication with bore 124. Extension 114 thusprovides an outlet opening for tube 24 so that liquid under pressureflowing out of chamber 103 through ports 112 will pass through port 122,bore 116, bore 124 and into nozzle 18.

Valve 102 includes a first portion 126 and a second portion 128,portions 126 and 128 being interconnected and coupled with a plunger 130having an enlarged neck 132 of approximately the same diameter as theinner diameter of extension 114. Portions 126 and 128 engage V the innersurface of member 96 and are movable axially thereof. a

Member 96 is provided with a beveled, continuous sur- 1 face 134 whichprovides a valve seat for the beveled outer face 136 of portion 128.When face 136 engages surface 134, liquid under pressure is preventedfrom passing into extension 114 from chamber 198, but portion 126 ispositioned so that liquid under pressure may flow from chamber 106,through opening 104', member 90, and

ports 110 into chamber 108.

Plunger 131 projects outwardly of closure 24 and when the same is movedinwardly thereof, face 136 moves out of engagement with surface134 andneck132 moves past surface 134 into the major portion of member 96.

When this occurs, ports 110 are closed by portion 126, but ports 112 areplaced in fluid communication with T extension 114 so that liquidrunderpressure maybe di-.

. recte'd out of chamber 108 and into nozzle 18.

Actuator 16 includes a transversely U-shaped member 133 rockably mountedon closure 24 by a pin 1%. A handle 142 extends laterally from one sideof member 138 and when the latter is rotated in a clockwise sense whenviewing FIGS. 2 and 3, plunger 13% is forced into tube 219 to shiftvalve 102 axially of member 96.

A seal 144 surrounds plunger 13%) and prevents liquid under pressurefrom passing out of extension 114 along plunger 1319. Thus, all oftheliquid flowing into extension 114 will pass out of the latter throughport 122.

In operation, coupling 38 is connected to a sourceof liquid underpressure and valve 1132 is in the full-line position of FIGS. 2 and 3with face 136 in engagement with surface 134. Piston 64 is in thefull-line position shown in FIG. 2 inasmuch as the restoring force ofspring 36 urges the same toward closure 22. Shaft 54 is initiallypositioned to provide one limit for the path of travel of piston 64,this being accomplished by disposing disc52 in the proper notch 50.

When liquid under pressure passes into chamber 106 through inlet 32, theliquid also passes into chamber 198 through opening 1114, member 9%,member 9 5, and ports 110. There will be no movement of piston 64 towardclosure 24 during the time when liquid under pressure fills chambers 166and 168 inasmuch as there is no ap preciable build-up of fluid pressurewithin chamber 1% so long as ports 1119 are open. As soon as chambers166 and 1118 are filled with the liquid, device 10 is then charged andready for use for dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid therefromthrough nozzle 18.

When it is desired to dispense liquid from device 11), handle 14-2 isdeflected so that member 138 urges plunger 134) inwardly of tube 211against the bias force of spring 1110. This action causes portions 126and 128 to move I to the pistons thereof shown in FIG. 3 wherein ports11% are closed with respect to member 90, and ports 112 are opened withrespect to extension 114. Liquid under pressure will then be forcedthrough ports 112, member 96, past surface 134, through extension 114,port 122, bore 116,.bore 124, and into nozzle 11 to the point ofintended use. The liquid is forced out by virtue of the fact that fluidpressure is released in chamber 108 and fluid pressure in chamber 1116is suflicient to shift piston 64 toward closure 24. In this respect, itis to be noted that spring 86 has a restoring force which is at alltimes less than the fluid pressure within chamber 106 and thereby, the

' fluid pressure of the source connected to coupling 38.

Piston 64 will, upon movement through tube 21 toward I closure 24,provide the driving force for the liquid as the same is dispensedthrough nozzle 13. This driving action will continue until bead 84engages face 88 of closure 24, as shown in FIG. 3. As piston 64 moves tothe position of FIG. 3, liquid is simultaneously being 7 forced intochamber 106 from the source so that as the volume of chamber 1116increases as the volume of chamber 198 decreases, liquid fills chamber106 with a volume equal to the volume of the liquid dispensed fromchamber res.

Upon release of handle 142, plunger 131i moves por- 1 tions 126 and 128to their positions of FIG. Z'under the influence of spring 1%; Onceagain, ports 110 are opened to member 90 and liquid under pressure flowsout of 1 22 until the same engages the inner, end of shaft 54 as shownin FIG. 2. It is noted that liquid is merely transferred from chamber.1% to chamber 108 during this recharging process so that no liquid isforced back into the source as piston 64 moves toward closure 22.

The device 10 is again ready for actuation and, follow-1 ing thedispensing of'thepredetermined volume of liquid therefrom, therecharging cycle automatically progresses. The volume of liquiddispensed from deviceltl' each time 2) the same is actuated is measuredby the volume of the liquid between bead S4 and face 88 when piston 6 isin the position of FIG. 2. To change this volume, the position of shaft54 is altered so that piston 64 will assume a different chargedlocation, i.e., the distance between bead 84 and face 88 will bechanged. To decrease the volume, disc 52 is disposed in the notch tnearest closure 22; to increase the volume, disc 52 is disposed in thenotch 543 remote from closure 22.

Device 19 is of a size to be hand-held and handle 142 is convenientlypositioned so as to be actuated by the thumb of the user.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

an outer tube;

a pair of closures mounted on respective ends or" the outer tube forclosing the same, each of said closures having an opening therethrough,said openings de fining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for the outertube;

a piston within and axially movable between a pair of spaced limitsrelative to the outer tube, said piston eing disposed for dividing theinterior of the outer tube into a pair of chambers with one of thechambers being in fluid communication with said inlet and the otherchamber being in fluid communication with the outlet, said piston havinga central opening therethrough;

an inner tube extending through the opening in the piston and having anopening at one end thereof in fluid commuication with said one chamberand a pair of axially spaced ports at the opposite end thereof in fluidcommunication with the other chamber to thereby place the chambers influid communication with each other;

a coil spring within said other chamber and disposed for biasing saidpiston toward said inlet;

a valve within said tube and movable from a first position closing saidoutlet and maintaining one of the ports open to the interior of theinner tube to a second position closing said one port and placing theother port in fluid communication with said outlet;

means biasing said valve toward said first position;

an actuator coupled with said outer tube and engageable with the valvefor moving the same toward said second position; and

a nozzle coupled with the closure corresponding to said outlet anddisposed in fluid communication with the latter to deliver apredetermined volume of a fluid under pressure from said other chamberwhen said value is in said second position and after the chambers havebeen filled with the fluid by a fluid source coupled with said inlet.

2. Fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein isprovided a shaft shiftably and rotatably mounted on the closurecorresponding to said inlet and movable into said one chamber and withinthe path of travel of the piston, a lateral projection on the outer endof the shaft and provided with a recess in the outer periphery thereof,a barrel rigid to and extending outwardly from the last-mentionedclosure, said barrel having a number of longitudinally spaced,projection-receiving notches therein, said shaft being rotatable toalign the recess of said projection with said barrel, whereby theprojection may be shifted longitudinally of the barrel into alignmentwith any one of said notches.

3. Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a hollow, enclosed body having a pair of spaced openings therethroughpresenting a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet therefor:

means dividing the interior of said body into a pair of chambers andbeing movable between a pair of spaced limits to alternately increaseand decrease the volume of each of said chambers, said inlet beingadjacent to one of the limits and in fluid communication with one of thechambers, said outlet being adjacent to the other limit and in fluidcommunication with the other chamber;

means placing said chambers in fluid communication with each other topermit said dividing means to be subjected to fluid pressure on opposedsides thereof;

means coupled with said dividing means for applying a pressure theretoless than said fluid pressure and in a direction to bias said dividingmeans toward said one limit;

an actuatable valve normally closing the outlet and disposed for openingthe latter when the valve is actuated;

means coupled with said valve for actuating the same, whereby the fluidpressure in said one chamber will move said dividing means from onelimit to the other limit and thereby force a predetermined volume ofsaid fluid out of said body through said outlet, there being structureshiftably carried by said body and defining said one limit; and

means releasably maintaining said structure in any one of a number offixed positions to permit variations in the distance between the limitsand thereby the volume ofthe fluid forced out of said body.

4. Fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 3,

wherein said structure includes a shaft normally extending into said onechamber and provided with a projection thereon exteriorly of said onechamber, said body having a number of spaced recesses, said projectionbeing received within any one of said recesses to dispose said shaft inany one of said positions.

5. Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a hollow, enclosed body having a pair of spaced openings therethroughpresenting a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet therefor:

means dividing the interior of said body into a pair of chambers andbeing movable between a pair of spaced limits to alternately increaseand decrease the volume or" each of said chambers, said inlet beingadjacent to one of the limits and in fluid communication with one of thechambers, said outlet being adjacent to the other limit and in fluidcommunication with the other chamber;

means placing said chambers in fluid communication with each other topermit said dividing means to be subjected to fluid pressure on opposedsides thereof;

a coil spring in said other chamber and normally under compression toexert a pressure on said dividing means less than said fluid pressurefor all locations of the dividing means within the body and in adirection to bias said dividing means toward said one limit, saiddividing means being provided with a continuous flange thereon extendinginto said other chamber, said coil spring being disposed within saidflange;

an actuatable valve normally closing the outlet and disposed for openingthe latter when the valve is actuated; and

means coupled with said valve for actuating the same, whereby the fluidpressure in said one chamber will move said dividing means from said onelimit to the other limit and thereby force a predetermined volume ofsaid fluid out of said body through said outlet.

6. Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a hollow, enclosed body having a pair of spaced openings therethroughpresenting a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet therefor:

means dividing the interior of said body into a pair of chambers andbeing movable between a pair of spaced limits to alternately increaseand decrease the volume of each of said chambers, said inlet beingadjacent to one of the limits and in fluid communication with one of thechambers, said outlet being ad- 7 jacent to the other limit and in fluidcommunication with the other chamber;

a tube within said body and extending through said dividing means, saidtube being in fluid communication at the ends thereof with respectivechambers to thereby place said chambers in fluid communication with eachother and permit said dividing means to be subjected to fluid pressureon opposed sides thereof;

means coupled with said dividing means for applying a pressure theretoless than said fluid pressure and in a direction to bias said dividingmeans toward said one limit;

an actuatable valve normally closing the outlet and disposed for openingthe latter when the valve is actuated; and

means coupled with said valve for actuating the same, whereby the fluidpressure in said one chamber will move said dividing means from said onelimit to the other limit and thereby force a predetermined volume ofsaid fluid out of said body through said outlet.

7. Fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein saidvalve is movable to a location closing the opening of said tube in fluidcommunicationwith said other chamber when said valve is actuated andsaid outlet is opened.

8. Fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein isprovided a resilient device extending through said tube and biasing thevalve in a direction to close the outlet.

9. Fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein one endof said tube surrounds said outlet, said tube being provided with a pairof longitudinally spaced openings therein adjacent said one end thereof,said openings being in fluid communication with said other chamber, saidvalve being disposed within said one end of the tube, normally closingsaid tube between said outlet and the-proximal opening of the tube andbeing normally spaced from the other opening of the tube, said valvebeing movable to a position closing said other opening and opening saidproximal opening to the outlet.

10. Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a hollow, enclosed body having a pair of spaced openings therethroughpresenting a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet therefor:

means dividing the interior of said body into a pair of chambers andbeing movable between a pair of spaced limits to alternately increaseand decrease the volume of each of said chambers, said inlet beingadjacent to one of the limits and in fluid communication with one of thechambers, said outlet being adjacent to the other limit and in fluidcommunication with the other chamber;

a tube extending through said dividing means and placing saidchambers influid communication with each other to' permit said dividing means to besubjected to fluid pressure on opposed sides thereof;

means sealing the junction between the periphery of the tube and thedividing means;

means coupled with said dividing means for applying a pressure theretoless than said fluid pressure and in a direction to bias said dividingmeans toward said one limit;

an actuatable valve normally closing the outlet and disposed for openingthe latter when the valve is actuated; and I means coupled with saidvalve for actuating the same, whereby the fluid pressure in said onechamber will move said dividing means from said one limit to the otherlimit and thereby force a predetermined volume of said fluid out of saidbody through said outlet.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

3. FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A HOLLOW, ENCLOSED BODY HAVINGA PAIR OF SPACED OPENINGS THERETHROUGH PRESENTING A FLUID INLET AND AFLUID OUTLET THEREFOR; MEANS DIVIDING THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY INTO APAIR OF CHAMBERS AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A PAIR OF SPACED LIMITS TOALTERNATELY INCREASE AND DECREASE THE VOLUME OF EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS,SAID INELT BEING ADJACENT TO ONE OF THE LIMITS AND IN FLUIDCOMMUNICATION WITH ONE OF THE CHAMBERS, SAID OUTLET BEING ADJACENT TOTHE OTHER LIMIT AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE OTHER CHAMBER; MEANSPLACING SAID CHAMBERS IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER TO PERMITSAID DIVIDING MEANS TO BE SUBJECTED TO FLUID PRESSURE ON OPPOSED SIDESTHEREOF; MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID DIVIDING MEANS FOR APPLYING A PRESSURETHERETO LESS THAN SAID FLUID PRESSURE AND IN A DIRECTION TO BIAS SAIDDIVIDING MEANS TOWARD SAID ONE LIMIT; AN ACTUATABLE VALVE NORMALLYCLOSING THE OUTLET AND DISPOSED FOR OPENING THE LATTER WHEN THE VALVE ISACTUATED; MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID VALVE FOR ACTUATING THE SAME, WHEREBYTHE FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID ONE CHAMBER WILL MOVE SAID DIVIDING MEANSFROM ONE LIMIT TO THE OTHER LIMIT AND THEREBY FORCE A PREDETERMINEDVOLUME OF SAID FLUID OUT OF SAID BODY THROUGH SAID OUTLET, THERE BEINGSTRUCTURE SHIFTABLY CARRIED BY SAID BODY AND DEFINING SAID ONE LIMIT;AND MEANS RELEASABLY MAINTAINING SAID STRUCTURE IN ANY ONE OF A NUMBEROF FIXED POSITIONS TO PERMIT VARIATIONS IN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THELIMITS AND THEREBY THE VOLUME OF THE FLUID FORCED OUT OF SAID BODY.